Review of The Bones of Others by Vickie McKeehan

Posted on February 7, 2013 by fundinmental

Vickie has a way of grabbing you by the….and pulling you into the story from the very first page.

He liked to go the park and watch the little girls. That is when he saw her. She was the one who would help launch his business venture, Whitfield’s Little Angels. It was so easy. They always believed him. She was twelve years old and so sweet and innocent. That was 13 years ago.

Now. Erin Prescott was only 15. She was sneaking to the mall after school to meet up with Jason Avery.

The rain would help disguise his blitz attack.

Josh Ander was CEO and founder of Ander All Games, the front man. Todd was the programmer, the brains of the company, but he liked to stay low profile. Josh treated his employees to Friday nights out at the local hangout, Gulls. It was like patting a dog for a job well done and in return they would work harder to please him. When he walked in, the guys were talking about a wolf being seen in the city. Sure.

Melanie had been stalking Josh, but when she followed him into the men’s room to suggest a quickie, it was the last straw. He had made a mistake by sleeping with her once and now she thought he really wanted her. He slipped out the back way, just going for a breath of fresh air and to regroup. He lost track of where he was, until he found himself surrounded by four men, one with a knife. He didn’t care about the cash or the watch, but his wife had died and he wasn’t going to give up his wedding ring.

All of a sudden, she appeared, as if from thin air, like a goddess from one of his video games. He saw a warrior with a light saber. She was all over them, using her night stick, her hands, her feet, karate kicking them until they went down. While they were down, she gave each one of them a few more kicks and hits to make sure they stayed there.

When he asked her name she told him, Skye Cree. She wanted to take him to the hospital because he had been stabbed. Instead, he convinced her to take him home.

“She had been on the hunt and now it seemed she had to babysit a helpless, wasted schmuck.”

She got him home and played doctor, patching him up. Was there anything she couldn’t do, he wondered? After she patched him up, she left him, passed out.

She’d lost his trail. She knew she would never be finished, that there would always be another.

As she looked into the fog, she came face to face with a wolf – its eyes as violet as her own. It would take Kiya to help her find the bones of others.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

Who is she? Why is she here? What is she hunting? And that was only the first chapter.

I love love love it. Paranormal, romance, crime. A gorgeous hunk of man and a woman superhero, with the monster next door thrown in.

I love the cover. Vickie’s book covers seem to speak to me, making me want to read the book before I even find out what it is about. Her writing is amazing and her stories are so easy to read that I begin to live and breathe with her characters.

The plot is so well-developed that I am drawn from page to page and chapter to chapter, not wanting to stop for anything. Just wanting to find out what was going to happen next.

Skye – I love that the main character is a female warrior, with her Nez Perce Indian heritage, it made the warrior image even more appropriate. Instead of the sword and shield, she had Karate and a night stick. No nine to five job for her. She had a mission and a purpose that drove her to accomplish the amazing things she did. I love strong female characters in novels, because I feel I could never be that person, but I want to have the opportunity to feel the things she feels and do the things she does and through words I am able to do that. Vickie is so good at drawing me in and making me feel a part of the story.

Josh – A rich, handsome, sexy man who is not stuck on himself. What’s not to love? Accepting of her being the strong one, but still knowing how to bring his assets to the table. I love that the main male character wanted to help her with her mission and went about making it possible for her to continue to do so without expecting or wanting anything from her, other than herself.

Vickie’s characters are so intriguing, that you wish you knew them, that they were your friends. How interesting life would be if they were. They could be your everyday person next door, who gets up and goes to work at their day job. I love the way Vickie depicts her women – no weak, sniveling, crying. whining femme fatale’s for her.

I wanted to read it cover to cover, non-stop, but my eyes grew heavy and the words began to blur. I didn’t want to miss a word of it, so I slowly closed the Kindle and called it a night.

Vickie’s books are chock full of love and romance, adventure and thrills. Heart stopping and heart warming. I can’t help but think that at least one of her books is bound to become that mega-hit movie you are waiting for

I received this book from the author, in return for an honest and unbiased review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vickie McKeehan Vickie is the author of six novels, including The Evil Trilogy and the Pelican Pointe series. She’s a hardcore lover of books who grew up listening to her mother tell fascinating stories about ghosts and other tales full of characters she wasn’t sure ever really existed.

A self-proclaimed beachgoer and ocean-lover, she lives in Southern California with the love of her life. When she isn’t working on her next manuscript or screenplay, she loves to be outdoors.

In her spare time she tries to grow things which other people commonly refer to as gardening. She loves reading all kinds of books, both fiction and non-fiction, loves to play video games, and enjoys watching football with the hubby. If you’ve ever read any of her books, you know she’s a die-hard Raider fan, which means she has the patience of Job.

She lives for chocolate, but then who doesn’t? She’ll kill for a cup of coffee in the morning. She’s convinced the best food on earth is French fries. And she could easily be a vegetarian if it wasn’t for bacon.

To find Vickie McKeehan just look below:

To Purchase any of Vickie McKeehan’s books from Amazon, click on the cover.

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos For this awesome Giveaway, Vickie McKeehan is offering:

3 Paperbacks

3 ebooks

US and Canada Only Please. Sorry to my International followers and friends. Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

Do you believe in the paranormal or supernatural? Do you believe in heroes, is someone out there watching over you? Have you ever had a vision?

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.

To see all my Giveaways, click HERE.

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Freebie – Meet, Mr. Bear by Midu Hadi – Mini Review for a Mini Story

Posted on February 4, 2013 by fundinmental

By Midu Hadi

Rating:

(4.38 based on 8 reviews)
Published: Jan. 03, 2013
Words: 2,709 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9781301146864

Description

Jane is just trying to make it on her own and she was doing fine until she ran into trouble…of the bear variety!

4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

I loved it!!!!!

A feel good shape-shifting novel that can be read in ten minutes or less, awesome.

The cover is sweet and cuddly and so is the story.

Take a moment to pick up a copy of this at Smashwords, HERE and let it warm your heart on a chilly winter day.

Stop by Goodreads and let her know what you thought.

One Fateful Mistake and………….Giveaway and Review of Deadly Road by Tara Neideffer

Posted on February 4, 2013 by fundinmental

Deadly Road

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Lizzie had been drinking when she saw her boyfriend, Michael, with someone else in the bar. She ran out and jumped in her car, even though she knew she shouldn’t be driving. She was tipsy and crying, barely able to see where she was going. She usually slowed down when she approached that certain area of the road, because of the fog, but not tonight. She just wanted to get home.

Then she heard thump-thump. Oh no. She checked her tires and saw blood on the front of her car. Great, she had hit an animal, but it was so much worse than that – a man. She panicked, what to do. She proceeded to drag him off the road and into the woods. Afterwards, she jumped in her car and drove home.

Once she got home, she even acted like a murderer. She changed her clothes and cleaned up, hiding any evidence of the accident. She saw a bloody hand print smeared on the wall and cleaned that up too. All the while, a feeling of impending doom hung over her.

Her friend, Haley, called to make sure she arrived home okay. As they talked, Lizzie reached for her necklace. It was her good luck charm and she was always reaching for it, but now it was missing. Where could she have lost it?

At work, she waited on a man wearing a ball cap. Strange things happened. She saw spiders crawling all over him. When she questioned him about what he said to her, he denied saying the things she knew she had heard him say,

“can’t hide it, haunt you until you die“.

Was she hallucinating?

She headed home and forgot to detour around the accident site. She had been avoiding the area ever since “it” had happened. As she approached the spot, she saw him.

Was he haunting her? Was her mind playing tricks on her? She knew something was very wrong.

When Lizzie went to work the next night, Haley told her about the little girl who had been found in the woods near her house. She wondered about the man. Had he been found?

Michael, her boyfriend, had heard about the little girl, too, and became worried for Lizzie. He went to her workplace, the Tavern, and arranged to go home with her. She felt a sense of relief having him there, she wouldn’t be alone and afraid.

Michael woke her from a nightmare she was having. The little girl was dead and warned her that the man was coming for her. It had felt so real to her. She wondered if it would ever be over.

In the morning, Michael became afraid, because it was so hard to wake her up. When he saw the marks around her neck he worried that he had choked her during their passionate lovemaking. She knew it wasn’t him. Her nightmare had come to life. Should she tell him?

Michael had to go out of town for work, so she was alone again. She told him she would be fine, but she didn’t really believe it.

She loved paranormal and horror movies, but she didn’t believe in it. Until now. Now, she felt she was living it.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

The cover is awesome. Eerie and foreboding. The spooky moon is indicative of what is to come.

The plot was suspenseful and grabbed me from the very beginning. Tara’s description of Lizzie’s nightmare was so realistic, it was believable. It could have been real. I knew something was coming, but what. My anticipation was such, that I was sitting forward on the couch, crunched up, waiting for the attack, or whatever was coming. It wouldn’t be good. The hair on my arms stood up and I felt chills running down my back.

I hate spiders, so when I read this, I had to make a note of it:

“Spiders are messengers from the other side. When you see a lot of spiders it means something or someone on the other side is trying to tell you something and you’re not listening.”

When I first picked up the book, I thought – this is good, like a three. As I kept reading and the suspense and pace of the novel picked up, I thought – whoa, this is a solid four. Then I began racing through the pages as one thing after another began to happen. I read it in one sitting. The plot and writing were gripping and drew me deeper and deeper into the story.

This is Tara Neideffer’s debut novel. I am constantly amazed at the quality of writing of so many indie authors and their debut novels.

Lizzie’s story could happen to anyone, except maybe for the ghost part. A normal, upright, careful person makes one mistake that could ruin their life.

Michael was a two-timing cheater. Would Lizzie be able to forgive him for his mistake? Will they find their way back to each other?

The book made me think of Ghost Whisperer with Jessica Love Hewitt. Ghosts came to her for help and she was able to talk to them and see them, when others couldn’t.

Tara Neideffer offered me a free copy in return for an honest and unbiased review, but when I checked my Kindle, I had already downloaded the book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Image of Tara Neideffer .

Tara Neideffer loves everything that has to do with the paranormal. She grew up reading Stephen King novels and watching horror movies. Deadly Road is her first paranormal novel. She is currently working on her next novel which will be a paranormal series.

In her free time she likes to spend time with her husband, daughter and step-son and sometimes go ghost hunting.

To find Tara Neideffer, you don’t need paranormal abilities, just look below.

Blog / Facebook / Goodreads

~~~~~~~~~~~~.

To purchase a copy of Deadly Road by Tara Neideffer, simply click on the cover.

GIVEAWAY

Tara Neideffer is offering for the Giveaway

2 (two) signed paperbacks. US and Canada only.

Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

Have YOU ever made a terrible mistake and have you been able to make it right?

CLOSED. WINNERS ARE – Laura T. and Barbara B.

Giveaway will run from 2/4 – 2/18, 2013 .

To see all my Giveaways, click HERE.

Follow me by email to keep up on all the latest news, reviews and giveaways, not required.

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Most Haunted Hotels (hotelscheap.org)

Giveaway and Review of Cracks In The Sidewalk by Bette Lee Crosby

Posted on January 30, 2013 by fundinmental

“This novel is based on a true story of losing hope and finding forgiveness. The book was the 2011 Winner of the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal and it took First Place in the Royal Palm Literary Award Competition. It is a story that will touch your heart and leave you with a feeling of inspiration.’

The Words of Bette Lee Crosby

Cracks in the Sidewalk

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How can you look into those gorgeous blue eyes and not want to wrap your arms around the child and fill his life with love and happiness? The emotion this cover evokes almost overwhelms me. It’s as if he is pleading with me to make it all better.

I received a letter and immediately sat down and wrote a letter in return. I hadn’t seen my grandchildren in 20 years. My dreams had always been of a large family, always together. I was an only child, but I didn’t know it. I filled my life with an imaginary family, to take the place of my cold and unloving parents.

Charlie and I could only have one child, but I filled Elizabeth’s life with playmates. When she married Jeffrey and they said they were going to have a houseful of kids, I was ecstatic.

Elizabeth told us of her first pregnancy twenty-two years ago. That’s when I told her of my imaginary family of kids. We joked and laughed about how we both could picture their faces.

When Elizabeth became pregnant with their third child, she knew something wasn’t right, I did too. J. T. rode her hard and criticized her at every turn. Elizabeth knew it was because of his own failure, but she loved him and made allowances.

Funny how you think you know someone, but they are totally different. They have kept it hidden, but something like money problems exposes their weakness. Elizabeth’s dad, Charlie, wouldn’t give J.T. any more money. So, in an attempt to blackmail him and extort more money from him, he wouldn’t let them see the kids. He didn’t care who he hurt.

As Elizabeth’s health deteriorates, no one sees J.T.’s next move coming, until it is too late.

5 STARS – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

Bette Lee Crosby’s covers always portray such a mix of emotions, foretelling the roller coaster ride inside the pages of the book. How can you look into those gorgeous blue eyes of the child on the cover and not be overcome with a desire to protect and love. I just know something bad is coming by the look in his eyes, the pain I see there.

A very sad and tragic story. As I read, I became very angry. I can’t say much about why, but when you read the book, you will know what I mean. No words can tell how upsetting parts of the book were, while others were so uplifting. Whenever a child’s heart breaks, the mothers breaks also. Whenever a child’s heart soars, so too does the mother’s. Our children are always a child to us parents.

Elizabeth was a good and kind person. When she was a little girl, she brought home every stray she found, feeling it necessary to care for them and give them a loving home. When asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would respond – a mom. She loved being a wife and mother. I remember my own mother’s answer when I asked her if she ever regretted staying at home and being a wife and mother. She said no, she loved every minute of it. Elizabeth would do almost anything for her husband and kids. She was a loving daughter, insightful and forgiving. Everyone loved her, except for, maybe, her husband.

J. T. was a mean, selfish, self-centered and vindictive adulterer. Because of his inability to accept blame for his failures, he had to blame them on someone else. So he picks the one person who loved him most, to become his whipping post. If I could have leaped into the pages of the book and punched his lights out, I would have.

Claire was a wonderful, loving and caring mother. She would do anything for her daughter. Sacrifice anything. She ached for her daughter’s pain. A heartbreaking vigil.

“Nothings perfect, life is like a sidewalk leading to heaven, we’re bound to come across a few cracks in it.”

“They’re Gods way of moving aside life’s cement. He’s giving us a chance to let something new grow.“

Bette Lee Crosby’s writing evokes such a wide range of emotions, I am continually surprised at how deeply her books affect me. Bette s books are so well written and the stories are so heartfelt and realistic, that you cannot help but respond to them. I couldn’t put the book down, as I read the blurred words through the tears in my eyes, until I reached the last word and closed the book.

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review. That is never a problem with Bette’s books, because they do not disappoint.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bette Lee Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006, when she won the National League of American Pen Women Award for unpublished fiction with What Matters Most. Her novel, Cracks in the Sidewalk, received the 2009 Royal Palm Literary Award and then went on to win the 2011 FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal. In 2011 Spare Change received the Reviewer’s Choice Awards and it garnered a second Royal Palm Literary Award. Her books have earned numerous five-star ratings with readers acclaiming them as heartwarming and captivating.

Most recently, Bette completed a memoir written for Lani Deauville, a woman the Guinness Book of Records lists as The World’s Longest Living Quadriplegic.

To see what Bette Lee Crosby is up to, follow the links below.

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

To purchase any of Bette Lee Crosby’s books from Amazon, simply click on the cover below.

To see my Review of Spare Change, go HERE.

To see my Review of Cupid’s Christmas, go HERE.

GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos Bette Lee Crosby is offering for the Giveaway

US – 2 (two) Paperbacks

International – 1 (one) ebook.

Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

What is a good memory you have as a child growing up?

Giveaway will run from 1/30 – 2/13, 2013 .

CLOSED. WINNERS are — PB Margie – PB Cindy Hamilton – Ebook Pragya.

Follow me by email to keep up on all the latest news, reviews and giveaways, not required.

Tweet and let your friends, family and followers know what’s going on, not required.

The Twelfth Child (irenewatson.typepad.com)

Taken by Adam Light

Posted on January 27, 2013 by fundinmental

TAKEN

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A psychopath is on the loose and hunting.

Toronto, Canada, September 3, 2012 - The front grille of a Freightliner truck Stock Photo - 15240188

Jack Harden was driving his cherry red Freightliner Truck down I-10 doing a turn and burn to Slidell. He was listening to his favorite song, Jack and Diane by John Cougar Mellencamp, while tooling down the road. He could hardly wait to get home to Dianne in Jacksonville.

He kept thinking, it’s all Dianne’s fault.

He stopped for a bite to eat and and picked up the waitress, not voluntarily either. He was bringing her back to “Goddess” Dianne? He wondered what she wanted with the girl.

He watched her through the rear-view mirror and could tell she wasn’t afraid of him.He thought he could read her mind – fuck you.

He had to stop for gas and felt like the clerk was watching him too closely. Did he know?

Jack and Diane was playing on the radio when he walked into the house. Perfect, or not.

4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

If you have 10 or 15 minutes, pick up a copy of Taken, by Adam Light. His writing is a play on his name. His story is anything but Light. A very quick read at 28 Amazon pages.

I loved the ending. It seems to be, the criminal always begs for mercy, when the tables are turned on them. Is he going to get his comeuppance? He could be the nut case next door to you. Funny how he found someone else at fault, of course he would. I “snorted” when I read that. (The word snort is the only one I could think of that was appropriate.) Jack made me think about how people are doing that all the time, blaming someone else for their wrongful deed. They don’t want to take responsibility for their actions.

I put this in because I absolutely love it. I can’t quit staring into the glasses.

Jack and Dianne

I kept expecting something to happen. Suspenseful is not a strong enough word for the feeling I had as I read through the pages. What happened was not what I expected and I loved every word of it.

I think I have a morbid, sick sense of humor, because I laugh at the gruesome endings of this kind of book.

If a book says Florida for a location, I am all over it. I like when the writer places their characters in a location I am familiar with. I can’t count the miles I have spent on I-10. Can’t remember how many times I have been to and through Slidell. I haven’t yet been to Jacksonville, though. It seems like I always make a right turn before getting there.

I picked this up on a free Amazon day. I can’t remember exactly how I came across the book. I believe it was either Adam’s brother, Evan (who also writes dark and creepy books) or my sister, Laura at fuonlyknew. Either way, thanks guys. It was one I wouldn’t want to miss.

88559

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I have spent the better part of my life in northeast Florida, but I was born in West Virginia. I was consumed at an early age by an unquenchable thirst for the written word. Words, in general, when I think about it.

I was a quiet bookish kid, but after moving down south I grew into a wild and rebellious teenager. I grew my hair long, became enthralled with heavy metal music, and all the rest.

Adam Light I’ve mellowed somewhat, but I love life, I love my family, and I love to write stories. I have a mad passion for it.

I am proud of the stories I have written and sincerely hope that readers like myself have enjoyed reading them as much as , and plan to continue tapping away at this keyboard until my fingers won’t move anymore.

Thanks to everyone who has supported my madness so far; I look forward to sharing much more of my mind’s crazy ride with you.

I was a quiet bookish kid, but after moving down south I grew into a wild and rebellious teenager. I grew my hair long, became enthralled with heavy metal music, and all the rest.

I’ve mellowed somewhat, but I love life, I love my family, and I love to write stories. I have a mad passion for it.

Thanks to everyone who has supported my madness so far; I look forward to sharing much more of my mind’s crazy ride with you.

I was a quiet bookish kid, but after moving down south I grew into a wild and rebellious teenager. I grew my hair long, became enthralled with heavy metal music, and all the rest.

I’ve mellowed somewhat, but I love life, I love my family, and I love to write stories. I have a mad passion for it.

Thanks to everyone who has supported my madness so far; I look forward to sharing much more of my mind’s crazy ride with you.

To stalk Adam Light:

Goodreads

FACEBOOK

To purchase any of the books below from Amazon, simply click on the cover.

Giveaway/Review of The Man With The Green Suitcase by Dee Doanes

Posted on January 24, 2013 by fundinmental

The Man With The Green Suitcase by Dee Doanes

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What is in that suitcase? Why will he risk everything to keep it safe?

Curiosity killed the cat, now read on to find out why.

The bum had not only been dumpster diving in the alley, he was also taking a dump. While he was squat down, he found a diamond wedding ring, a cell phone and some cold, hard cash. He had picked it up and put it in his battered green suitcase, but when he spotted the cops he quickly pulled it out, dropped it and ran to the Open Door Community House. He went inside and immediately headed to the corner. He wanted only to be left alone, to be invisible. Eddie came over to sit with him. If he had a friend, it would be Eddie.

The Z Brothers came in complaining about someone stealing their stash. They had broken into a house, killed someone and hid the stuff. It was the stuff the old man found.

Lee saw he was nervous, but when she touched him, his skin looked like it was bubbling and worms were crawling underneath it. He told her it would be okay, to go ahead and touch his face. Then she would find out what she needed to know. Afterwards a peacefulness she hadn’t felt in a long time, washed over her.

Gerald drove around, picking up the rent checks from the lessees. Life had been good to him. Then he runs into the old woman. She accuses him of being the cause of her husband’s death and tells him, he’ll get his and soon. When Tony, his new partner. says the same thing, almost word for word he can’t help but notice.

The nightmare woke him up. He knew he never should have done the deal with Tony. It was blood money. It had felt wrong when they made the deal and he should have paid attention to his gut talking to him.

Gerald drove by the Open Door and felt compelled to turn around and go back. He had no idea why. Before he knew what he was doing, not only did he donate money, he volunteered to work there.

For some reason, listening to Lee describe the house and the residents, Gerald finds himself actually enjoying listening to her. Then he spots the man with the green suitcase. Lee notices the man with the suitcase looking intently at Gerald and is surprised, because he usually tries very hard not to be noticed.

Valerie’s life wasn’t going the way she had planned. When she came to town, she had dreams, but they were short-lived. Now she was a hooker and she hated it. She had had it with her night job and decided to drive around and look for hiring signs. She stopped when she came to the Open Door and, on impulse, went in to volunteer. She met Gerald, as Lee shows her around.

Gerald ran into the man with the green suitcase and chased him down. He just wanted to talk to him. They both touched the bush at the same time and he had a vision. The old man ran off before Gerald could ask him what it meant.

Back in the Open Door, Gerald ran into Valeria again and asked her out. Over time, they began to feel they may have a future together. They both had the same thoughts running through their heads. They needed to fess up and disclose their secrets or it could ruin the relationship they had been building.

Tony served Gerald with a $15,000,000 lawsuit. He thought there was no way Tony could use the dirt he had on Gerald because he was so dirty himself, but if he did, Valerie would learn his secret. What would she do then?

Gerald was determined to question the man with the green suitcase. He finds out that he has no memory of anything. He doesn’t know who he is or how he came to be here. Gerald thinks he and the man have some kind of connection, because he is now having visions even if he isn’t near him. The old man is concerned about Gerald. He decides to leave town and buys a bus ticket with the last of his money. He promptly loses it.

Will Lee’s vision come true? Will Gerald and Valerie be able to get past their secrets? What will happen when they do fess up? And what about the man with the green suitcase? Who is he? What’s in the suitcase?

4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

The cover is eerie and has a sense of mystery about it. The title is self-explanatory.

You may find yourself losing track of time because the book is well written, easy to read and you will want to know – what is in the suitcase.

This story is about people and their daily lives. It tells about the trials and tribulations of them just trying to get through life with a little bit of peace and happiness. They learn they can’t run from the past, but they can change the future. That by giving, they receive so much more than they gave.

It’s funny how it can be such a small world. How people’s lives can be connected, without them even being aware of it.

Some of the characters start out being pretty bad. Selfish, self-centered, corrupt, petty, pretty much everything you don’t want to be. The others just appear to be lost. By making one decision, their lives become so much worse than they had ever anticipated. They redeem themselves as they ride the roller coaster of life and end up helping each other become a better person.

Does it prove the rule, what goes around comes around? Do unto others?

Maybe all those sayings are true. Things happen for a reason. Are we just here and our lives already planned, we just act it out? Is the play written and we are the cast, acting our parts until the story is told? Are somethings meant to stay a mystery?

As I read the story, so many clichés ran through my head, I knew I had to use them. I wanted you to get the same feeling I did as I read the book.

The ending had me laughing, even though it was pretty dark and drear. It was a fit ending and lives up to the cliché: Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

I received this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dee Doanes is the author of The Man With the Green Suitcase, her first fiction novel.

She has previously published short stories and poetry. She has a deep passion for writing and has been writing since the age of five.

Doanes has a background in copywriting, communications, and social media.

She’s active in several charities and conducts a youth poetry workshop for the Atlanta Writers Club Youth Writing Camp, and is the former co-chair of the Writing in the Schools Program for Georgia Writers.

Doanes lives in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoys spending time with her daughter and parents. Doanes’ mother encouraged her to read and to be creative while growing up. In her spare time she enjoys attending writing events and workshops, fitness training, collecting art, world travel, and gourmet cooking.

Future plans: I plan on getting The Man With the Green Suitcase made into a TV series or movie. Also, I will be releasing a book of poetry and doing poetry readings. I am working on a fiction book that deals with how people are connected to each other in the most remarkable ways. I will touch upon reincarnation a little bit and the setting spans across several countries. The title is not set yet. More details as I get closer to the release date.

To find out what Dee is doing, follow these links:

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

Facebook

Amazon Author Page

To buy your copy of the book, simply click on the cover.

GIVEAWAY

Dee Doanes is offering for the Giveaway, 2 ebooks (mobi or PDF).

Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

What do you think is in the suitcase?

Giveaway will run from 1/24 – 2/7/2013.

CLOSED. WINNERS are Laura T. and Andrea W. Hunt.

To see all my Giveaways, click HERE.

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The Reading Life #1: All Roads Lead to Flannery O’Connor (vol1brooklyn.com)
An Interview with Dee Doanes, author of The Man With the Green Suitcase (womanontheedgeofreality.com)
My suitcase landed where?! Your phone knows (ces.cnet.com)
Luggage Superstore announces the S’cure cabin size. (prweb.com)

From Sweet and Lovely To Dark and Creepy, There’s A Story For Everyone Here – Review DARK MATTERS by T. Joseph Browder

Posted on January 23, 2013 by fundinmental

.Since I posted this, T. Joseph Browder has made a book trailer that you may want to check out. While you are here, read my review and, if interested, you can pick up the book at the end of the post.

Dark Matters by T. Joseph Browder

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These 7 short stories take a ride on the wild side. They are dark, creepy, and end of the world scary, except for the first one, which I think T. Joseph put in just to mess with us.

TOBY

Stock Image Saint Bernard dog My father got me a Saint Bernard, Toby, when he was a puppy. He saved my life when I was only eight years old. Little did I know, that when he passed away, it would not be the last time I saw him.

A touching and uplifting story for the paranormal lovers. Just because someone is gone, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t looking out for you.

A personal note from the author:

“Toby is my personal favorite, possibly because most of it, right down to the boy falling off the roof, being punctured through the leg, and being saved by the dog, is true. And yes, I did bury him at the base of a lightning split elm in the back yard.”

ROUGE

When Jessie crashed his truck and rolled over the cliff, he thought the worst thing he would have to worry about was the freezing cold weather. Think again Jesse. You may wonder, what does a bear have to do with a car accident?

What goes around comes around and sometimes it is worse than you can imagine.This was my favorite story of the book. I guess it is probably because I love any kind of horror story that includes a creature of a critter of some kind.

HAMMERFALL

He heard a voice, but didn’t hear it clearly. Where was he? It was the Livestar operator. She said no one could respond at this time because of Hammerfall, an asteroid. Everyone had disregarded the Mayan prophecies. would they pay the price now?

Well, you’ll have to read the story to find that out. What do you think would be the end result? Would there be anyone left? Would you want to be one of them or be taken out in the first BIG BANG?

THE VISITOR

Lucas had a run in with Nicholai before, thus his ill-health. Lucas’ plan to destroy him was so out of the ordinary, that he felt Nicholai would never see it coming.

Just goes to show how far some people will go to see justice served.

THE CONTRACT

He hired me to kill him. I thought he was out of his mind, but when I heard the price, I jumped on it. I wasted no time, I shot him on the spot. Uh-0h. I should have waited until he told me the details.

I sure didn’t see the ending coming on this one.

AFTER HAMMERFALL

What do you think would be left? How many humans would survive? How many plants? How many animals? And what would they be like?

EDUCATOR

I was beaten nearly to death, stomped on, then shot in the face. No one knew why it happened. I kept secret, that I no longer needed the cane. I did not want people to know what I was really capable of, because I had a mission to fulfill.

How far would you go to seek revenge for the death of a loved one?

4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

It’s funny how many of the books I review have trees on their covers, in some shape or form. This cover is beautiful and fits in with the season. It brings back many memories, of when I lived in the wintry, northern states.

The stories were well written and flowed smoothly, making them very easy to read. Pick it up at lunch time, while waiting at the doctor’s or dentist’s office, anywhere you are when you have 10, 15, maybe even 20 minutes. Depends on how fast you read.

The characters are easy to love, hate or feel like they got what was coming to them.

The first story is a “make me feel good”, lovely story. I think T. Joseph Broder did that to set us up for what was to come, because he quickly moves on to things that are not so pleasant, in fact they are down right horrific..

I always find short stories very hard to review. I want to get across how interesting and unexpected so many of the stories are without giving away the good stuff. So how do you do that? I hope I did it well enough to peak your interest and wonder, “What in the hell is she talking about?” ^_^ Then pick up your copy to find out.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

T. Joseph Browder After an extremely interesting childhood rich with the writings of Poe, King, Koontz, and many others, I left the real world in 1995 and lived for thirteen years in a timeless, soulless void. While there, I spent countless hours reading and studying Philosophy, Psychology, Parapsychology, and, oddly enough, Business. Ultimately, I returned to the real world (with virtually no identity or personal history and no official history whatsoever) and set about the business of making a life for myself from scratch, the pitfalls and hurdles of which, in this post 9/11 world, could fill an entire book.

I now live in Ellinwood, KS, with my wife and four granddaughters (the comedy and drama of that would fill an entire series of books) and published my first book, a short story collection of horror, science-fiction, and suspense, in April, 2012. I am currently working on a novel that defies genre classification with the greatest editor in the world.

T. Joseph Browder invites you to listen to a recent podcast review:

“I got a great one in a podcast from The Library Police starting at the nineteen minute mark:

http://www.thelibrarypolice.com/episode-94-misery-porn.html

but that’s a lot to listen to, to get to that particular review. It boosted my ego, though.”

To see what’s happening in the mind of T Joseph Browder, follow the links below:

Goodreads

Twitter

To pick up a copy of the book from Amazon, simply click on the cover below.

GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos T. Joseph Browder is offering for the Giveaway, 10 (ten) ebooks. International. Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

I know there are a lot people who love short stories. Are you one of them and why?

GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.

CLOSED. WINNERS are: Pragya – Alana Perumal – Emma Meade – Joseph – Lada Ray – Lee (JaxGrampy) – Dia Palaez – Marianne – Vickie Evans and Cecilia.

Congratulations and thank you everyone for stopping by and commenting.

Fanged Mania #10 – Giveaway and Review of Charmeine: The Light-Bearer Series, Book I by Emily Guido

Posted on January 18, 2013 by fundinmental

To join in, copy and paste these rules and the above banner into your Fanged Mania post and add your link to this week’s Fanged Mania post at Elisabeth Wheatley’s Blog. Fanged Mania is a Friday meme counting down to the release of Fanged Princess and displaying all things vampire and awesome. Fanged Mania posts can be a review of a vampire book, a quote from the latest Vampire Diaries episode, a showcase of a cool vampire book’s cover, or whatever you like so long as it is vampire related. Don’t forget, participants will be entered in the drawing to win a fanged-abulous prize pack!

The prize pack I mentioned includes Vampire Diaries and Breaking Dawn posters as well as a paperback copy of Erica Steven’s Captured (my review here) and the complete collection of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter stories by Jennifer Malone Wright, in paperback, too! =D

Oh, and the contest is international. And the more Fanged Mania posts you have, the more entries you get! So what are you waiting for? Hop on the bandwagon!

As Tabbruis held Charmeine, he asked her if she thought the Prophecy would be revealed today.

Charmeine – Angel of Harmony

Tabbruis – Angel of Self Determination

Charmeine (The Light-Bearer, #1)

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Tabbruis had fed from the stag and was ready for a hot shower. He hopped in his Dodge Charger SRT8 and drove to the hotel.

After his shower, he looked in the mirror and saw her. She appeared in the steam, a vision to behold. He knew it wasn’t real, but he couldn’t forget her.

For some reason, he felt an urgent need to go to New York City. He always stayed at the Ritz Carlton, in the Penthouse Suite. He loved it there and Ferrell always took such good care of his needs and wants. He was alone, but he liked his luxuries and some of the things he required were above and beyond the normal.

Charleen was a school teacher and Shane, her best friend, called to tell her he had to cancel their Billy Joel concert date. Ferrell, his boss, had a super job for him that was too good to pass up. Charleen ended up going to the concert by herself.

In the orphanage, Charleen and Shane had become like brother and sister.They were drawn to each other, but never had the desire to take it further.

While Shane drove Tabbruis around, they listened to a Billy Joel CD.All Tab could think about was her. He listened to the CD and felt as if he was being called to the concert.

Charleen watched the concert, until a feeling of fear overcame her. She felt she was in great danger and knew she had to get away. Tabbruis had felt it too and was heading towards her. He came upon her, lying on the ground with a Blood Hunter standing over her.

Charleen saw Tabbruis was losing the fight. She reached out to him. Before he lost consciousness, he saw her face and a brilliant white light.

Tabbruis had one friend, Dimitri. They were both Blood Drinkers and Dimitri had helped him when he had lost everything. He had told him about himself and the others, the Blood Hunters and the Light Bearers. The Light-Bearers are the good of God, God’s Angels. Dimitri also told him about The Prophecy – a special Light- Bearer, along with her mate, a Blood Hunter, and her family, would bring justice and harmony to Earth.

Tabbruis was in a desperate situation. It was time to call Dimitri for help.

3 STARS – Would Recommend To Others

**********************************I am not surprised that the story started out slow, I feel it is just setting the foundation for the series. The first three books were meant to be one BIG BOOK. So don’t be discouraged, you really need to read on********************************

The cover is pretty and caught my eye. I love brilliant, saturated colors.

I love hot cars, so any time I can slip one, especially a super cool one, into my post, I do. ^_^ I felt if Tabbrius drove such a hot car, he had to be hot, too. ^_^

I had heard and seen so much about this series, I felt I had to read it for myself. I am not a huge romance fan, so I wasn’t sure if I would like the book. I really want more to the story than love and happiness. I like a lot of action and as I read along, the story began to pick up the pace. By the time I reached the end of the book, I was ready for more. A love story, but so much more. You can feel the love oozing out of the pages, the sexual tension builds until …………

Emily Guido’s writing will draw you deeper into Charmeine’s and Tabbruis’ lives as they discover their true purpose. Is it Fate? Is it Destiny? Have their lives already been written?

What would you do, if in the blink of an eye, everything you believed in was no more?

Do you believe in angels? If you believe in good, there must be bad.

As Emily described the fight, I could picture it. I love it , when the writing is so descriptive, I can picture the scenes. The story unrolls like a movie in my mind. When Emily says she pictures the characters and scenes in her mind, I can definitely relate, as the scenes played out in my head because of her deep and thorough descriptions.

Emily wants you to know that Charmeine is just the tip of the iceberg in the series….to really get to the lip-smacking gravy part, you really need to read Charmeine, Mactus and Accendo, which were one book. That is why, for the giveaway, if you already have Charmeine and Mactus (which were free on Amazon, which is how I got mine), Emily will replace your win with Accendo.

By the time I got to the end of Charmeine, I was ready for Mactus. Some people look at a big book and won’t even pick it up. It seems all the publishers want authors to make two books instead of one, but I can get into long books. So the series are good because it’s like a really long book and I can get so into the story, that when I’m done and the last page is read, it is such a let down, that I almost go into a depression from such a deep feeling of loss. It’s kind of silly really, it’s just a book, and the characters are not real, but I have always been emotionally involved in my reading. I love traveling into new worlds and meeting new people through the characters in books.

I picked up this book on a FREE day on Amazon and I am very glad I did. I see many hours of traveling through time with Charmeine and Tabbruis.

A Couple Of My Favorite Quotes

“Semper tuus ero……I am forever yours”

“You quiet me and stir my passion all at the same time.”

ALERT*****ALERT******ALERT******ALERT******ALERT******ALERT*****ALERT

Emily Guido has her first book signing coming up February 2 at the Book Expo in the Birmingham Library in Birmingham, Alabama.

Emily will also be at the County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey on March 4 in the college bookstore.

How exciting for her. If you are in the area, you too, can be a part of it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emily Guido is a very new Young Adult, Paranormal Romance Author. She was inspired to start writing “The Light-Bearer Series” because one day she got an idea of two light and dark characters who have an epic romance. A week later, Emily had over a 100,000 words written. When she writes, she pictures the characters in her head going through vivid descriptions of each scene. She has written five novels, “Charmeine” “Mactus” “Accendo” “Seditious” and “Ransom” The sixth novel in “The Light-Bearer Series,” is entitled “Conundrum” and will be released in 2013.

Notes to Reviewers and Readers:
First, the Blood-Hunter race or Elders have been on Earth for thousands of years. Because of this, they do not use contractions like I’m, don’t or can’t. They communicate in a more refined way because of their age.

Second, there are several OLD editions out in circulation of my books. Please leave a review on the current edition. Please feel free to contact me, Emily, at guido.emily@gmail.com to check the edition you have is the recent edition.

To Find Emily, Follow The Links

Website

Goodreads

Twitter

Emily Guido – Author FACEBOOK Page

To order any of the books, simply click on the cover.

GIVEAWAY

taiwan flag smiley animated gif Pictures, Images and Photos Emily Guido is generously offering 5 ebooks (PDF, MOBI, Epub and HTML) of Charmeine for the Giveaway. If you already have Charmeine and Mactus, Emily will give you Accendo instead.

International. Easy entry as always, just leave your email address and answer the question:

Who is your favorite hunk or hunkess in a book, movie………?

Giveaway will run from 1/18 – 2/1/2013.

CLOSED. WINNERS are — Lacey G – emaginette – Jenny – Kylie – Pragya.

To see all my Giveaways, click HERE.

I hope you will tweet this out and share it with your friends, family and followers.

You don’t want to miss more of my posts, so take a moment to become one of my followers. ^_^

I am going to be featuring Emily Guido’s Light-Bearer Series until the story is told, so be sure and stay tuned for more wonderful adventures of Charmeine and Tabbrius.

Review of The Heidelberg Effect by Susan Kiernan-Lewis

Posted on January 17, 2013 by fundinmental

. The Heidelberg Effect (Tempus fugitives trilogy, #1)

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Ella was sitting in the coffee shop, studying the German language on her Ipod, when Rowan approached her. Even though she was immediately attracted to him, she thought, I’m moving to Heidelberg, Germany soon and I don’t need any complications.

Rowan was hard to ignore. He wore a cowboy hat and was tall, dark and handsome. He worked as a US Marshall, but was on medical leave and staying with his parents until he recovered from an injury. Then he would go back to Dothan, Alabama.

The next time she saw him, he was rescuing her from two robbers, who were going to kidnap her from the coffee shop . He asked her to dinner. How could she say no? He had just saved her. After dinner, they went back to her, packed up and almost empty, apartment and she told him about her move. She was really glad when he said, “Maybe we’d better not waste any more time.”

They went to Waffle House for breakfast. As they ate, they both thought about the other. Rowan felt he had found the perfect woman, but she was leaving. Ella felt the same way about him, but she was very independent and was going anyway. She said they could Skype, write and visit, but right now she wanted to be back in bed with him. They spent two wonderful days together and now they were at Atlanta airport and she was leaving him.

Heidelberg was everything Ella thought it would be. She missed Rowan, but as the days passed, she was busy with everything new and tired after work, so sometimes she didn’t even call him.

Ella called her dad and he mentioned there could be some of her mom’s family still in Germany. Why would he mention it now, after all this time? Should she look them up? Was her dad hinting that something wasn’t right about her mom’s death?

Ella did some research and found a couple leads to people who might be able to help her. She decided to let Hugo, her co-worker, drive her to check them out. She would end up regretting that decision.

At the first place, the woman slammed the door in her face. She hit the jackpot at the second. She met her aunt who was also named Ella. She had been separated from the family at an early age. She told Ella what she knew about the past and her grandfather, Rudolph Vogel. Ella didn’t know he was known as the butcher of Auschwitz. He had been hung by the allies at the Nuremberg Trials in 1945.

Hugo had seemed very interested, was he too interested? Ella began to wonder, what was Hugo’s job? How could she have worked with him this long, even went out with him once, and didn’t even know what he did?

Tuesday started out as a typical day, until she arrived at work. Why was Heidi acting so strange? Why was everyone looking at her?

It had been a month since Ella had spoken to Rowan. She felt desperate to talk with him. She decided it was time to go home, but her route was one she could never have foreseen.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

Susan always tells a good story and they are well written, easy to read and flow smoothly.

Atlanta is familiar to me and I always like when places I know and love are mentioned in a book. It draws me further into the story. Waffle House – what can I say about Waffle House? If you’ve ever been in the south, you know it’s an icon. The best breakfast you will ever eat, especially after a night on the town.

The cover caught my attention immediately. I love a rough and tough female heroine. And she was. Ella was very independent and not one to avoid doing what she felt was necessary, even at the risk of her own life. Rowan fell hard for Ella. It was the strength of his feelings that would reunite them. When they re-met, my eyes watered and I smiled, even though I knew it had to happen.

I was reading along, about her caught in the storm, but what came next brought my reading to a screeching halt. I was puzzled. What? What’s happening? I was so caught up in the story, I forgot where it was going. I was waiting for someone to jump out and get her, instead she walks into………

I suspected Hugo of being a bad guy. He was, but not quite the way I thought he would be. He was vindictive and didn’t like being snubbed by Ella.

When Ella went back in time, the story really picked up. I was already into it, now I didn’t want to put it down. I was trying to write it in my mind and make it go where I wanted it to go. I kept thinking, you can guess where it ends, Sherry, don’t worry. It was a great ride getting there, with a loop and a twist here and there.

My Favorite Quotes

“fucking poster child for love-sick puppies”

“What a wild ride life is with you Rowan.”

“You do know we can’t solve all of history’s problems, right? God I’m going to miss this shit back in Dothan.”

That put a big smile on my face, as I thought, where will they travel to next.

The Cairo Effect, 2nd book in the Tempest Fugitives Time Travel Series, is scheduled for release in the spring 2013.

I received this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

For my review of Finding Infinity by Susan Kiernan Lewis, go HERE.

To purchase, simply click on the cover.

For my review of Murder in Provence, go HERE.

To purchase, simply click on the cover.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Best-selling author Susan Kiernan-Lewis is an Air Force Brat who has traveled the world and racked up over 40 addresses in her life (and she’s not finished yet.) Her fascination with world travel explains why nearly all her books are set outside of the US. Her apocalyptic women’s suspense, FREE FALLING, is based in Ireland and was a semi-finalist for Best Indie Book of 2012. Her Maggie Newberry Mysteries (which take place in France) have won multiple awards. Presently living in Atlanta, Susan writes in several genres including mystery, romantic suspense and women’s fiction. Professionally, Susan is an advertising copywriter and video editor. Contact her at sanmarcopress@icloud.com and follow her at her website: susankiernanlewis.com.

To find Susan, go to the links below:

Website

Goodreads

Susan has more than twenty books published, so I will only show you a few, but you can click on any of the covers to go to Amazon.

Heidelberg (anecdotes.typepad.com)
Stealing Heaven!! (fuonlyknew.wordpress.com)
Blood is Heavier #First Giveaway and Review in 2013 (fuonlyknew.wordpress.com)

Giveaway-Guest Post-Review of The Beach by Jaye Frances

Posted on January 10, 2013 by fundinmental

I just want to take a moment to thank Jaye Frances for coming by to share her book, The Beach, with us. Take it away, Jaye.

Guest Post

Thank you, Sherry, for featuring me today with my sci-fi supernatural tale, The Beach. In the following excerpt, the main character, Alan, is at home in his beachside bungalow, examining an unusual oddity that he found on the shore. Little does he know that he is about to have one of those fateful encounters in the form of a stranger who offers to turn Alan’s deepest desire into reality.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

Alan picked it up carefully and brought it close to one eye, peering into the elaborate maze of cavities and compartments.

“There is nothing inside.” The voice was deep and sure and it came from behind.

Surprised, Alan twisted around on one foot, dropping the honeycombed remains of his juju bottle. It bounced off the floor and flipped up on one end, apparently able to right itself under its own power.

“There was, though not any longer,” the intruder added. “What was once there is now here, standing before you.”

Alan’s first thought was that he’d caught one of the kids from the beach slipping into the house, probably trying to steal something. But this was no kid. And while he knew most of the local panhandlers, this guy didn’t resemble any of them.

“What are you doing in my house?” Alan barked. “You can’t just come in here and sneak up on me like that.”

The stranger’s mouth broadened into a wide smile. “Oh, I beg to differ. I can do exactly that. Actually, there is very little I cannot do.”

His accent was dripping with a British lilt. Maybe Australian. His clothes—neatly-pressed khakis, a pale blue button-down shirt, and brown calfskin loafers—were yuppie-casual yet tailored to precisely fit his six-foot frame. His grooming was impeccable, with neatly trimmed sandy-blonde hair, a clean shave, and movie star teeth. Alan estimated the man to be about thirty-five.

“You need to get out of here before I call the cops. You hear me?”

“Why certainly I hear you. Although it’s a wonder I can still hear anything with all that racket going on. I assumed I was being summoned to a situation of utmost urgency, so I came as quickly as the ether would allow.”

“The what?”

“The ether.”

Alan shrugged his shoulders, his rising irritation pushing him closer to picking up the phone and calling the sheriff.

“The ether seals,” the intruder said. “The inscribed stonework that allows my coming and going. The helix is always in motion, sometimes offering the risk and reward of opportunity, other times simply foretelling an unchangeable future.”

Alan knew that some of the “artistic” types occasionally wandered up from as far south as Key West, and a few of them could be eccentric as hell. He decided his best approach was to stay calm and try to get this guy out of his house before he could do any real damage.

“You’re not from around here, are you?”

“Oh, contraire,” the stranger answered. “I am from here . . . and there. In fact, I cannot think of a single place I haven’t been. Places on and off this little sphere on which you live.” He paused, his expression frozen in a flash of blank absence, as if in that fleeting instant he was somewhere else, distracted by another conversation. Then in a moment too short to measure, his attention returned, his features fully animated. “And I suppose you still call this part of your planet, oh, let me see, what was that word?” He pronounced it phonetically, in broken syllables. “Ah . . . mare . . . eee . . . ka.”

“America,” Alan repeated. “We say, America.”

“Yes, yes, that’s it!”

Alan nodded slightly in placation. “So what do you want?” It sounded demanding, and Alan immediately changed his tone, concerned the strange man might be harboring violent tendencies. “I mean, how can I help you?”

“I don’t think you can. That is, I’ve never received help from anyone before. Never needed it. I appreciate the offer. Certainly do. I’m going to take note of it. Make sure you get full credit during the . . . negotiations.”

Here’s a brief synopsis:

Alan loves the beach. More than a weekend respite, it is his home, his refuge, his sanctuary. And for most of the year, he strolls the sand in blissful solitude, letting nature—and no one else—touch him. But spring has given way to summer, and soon, the annual invasion of vacationers and tourists will subdivide the beach with blankets, umbrellas, and chairs, depriving Alan of his privacy and seclusion—the fundamental touchstones of his life.

Resigned to endure another seasonal onslaught of beach-goers, Alan believes there is nothing he can do but prepare for the worst.

But fate has other plans.

Delivered to him on the crest of a rogue wave, the strange object appears to have no purpose, no practical use—until Alan accidentally discovers what waits inside. Now he must attempt to unravel an ageless mystery, unaware that the final outcome will change his life, and the beach, forever.

In the companion novella Short Time, you’ll meet a respectable but bored middle-class executive, who exchanges his future for six months of excess and extravagance, only to find out the price he must pay for his hedonistic indulgence is beyond anything he could have imagined.

My Review

Alan loved the beach (his beach), but when summer came, the tourists came with it. He thought the beach belonged to him and hated having to share it.

As he walked, he turned to look back at his bungalow. He had worked hard to be able to buy this slice of Heaven. He preferred his own company and talked to the ocean as if it was a trusted friend.

He had reached the granite rock outcrop, which continually amazed him. He would walk the beach until he reached the rock, then look over his domain. A storm was approaching and he didn’t have time to make it back to the bungalow, so he hid behind his the rock, seeking protection from the wind.

When the water swirled around his feet, something bumped his leg. He held the object and asked the air around him, “How much longer is this going to last?”, and the storm abated. He thought nothing of it.

As he examined the object, he thought it was a prism, because of the beautiful lights reflecting from it. He couldn’t see how to open it, so he grabbed a hammer and nail and struck it. He was stunned with the result.

A man spoke from behind him. He dropped the “bottle” and turned.

Alan’s adventure began.

4 STARS – Would Highly Recommend To Others

The moral of the story, be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

I was first drawn to the book because of the gorgeous cover. I love the beach, sand and water, so I will stop and browse whenever I see a cover with them on it.

The writing makes this an easy read, with the story flowing smoothly as the plot unravels.

I felt for the guy, because I love the beach and hate sharing it too. But, who died and made him God?

The ending was so creepy, it sent chills running up and down my spine and the hairs on the back of my neck tingling, but I smiled too. lol When you read it, you will know, that in itself could be considered creepy.

Could you imagine wading on the oceans edge and looking down, only to see……………

There is a bonus novella at the end of the book. What price are you willing to pay, in exchange for having all your heart desires right now?

I received this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jaye Frances is the author of The Kure, a paranormal-occult romance novel, The Possibilities of Amy, a coming-of-age romance, The Cruise-All That Glitters, a humorous adult satire on romance about a bachelor taking his first cruise vacation, The Beach, a sci-fi fantasy about a man who is given the opportunity to receive his ultimate wish and lives to regret it, and Love Travels Forever, a collection of poignant short stories and essays. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Born in the Midwest, Jaye readily admits that her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent. When she’s not consumed by her writing, Jaye enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures—lots of pictures—many of which find their way to her website. Jaye lives on the central gulf coast of Florida, sharing her home with one husband, six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes. For more information, visit her website at http://www.jayefrances.com, Jaye’s Blog at http://blog.jayefrances.com and her fan page at http://www.facebook.com/jayefrancesau…